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Who Can Provide Worker’s Comp Medical Treatment?

Medical treatment expense now eclipses indemnity benefits paid in Wisconsin for worker’s compensation. The employer must supply medical treatment reasonably required to cure and relieve from the effects of the injury.

Treatment can be medical, surgical, chiropractic, psychological, pediatric, or dental and includes hospital treatment, medical and surgical supplies, crutches, and artificial members and appliances.

While in Wisconsin, the employee has a great deal of freedom of choice in selecting a treating practitioner, some limits apply. Practitioners must be licensed to practice in Wisconsin. Out-of-State treatment is compensable if it is on a referral by a Wisconsin practitioner or with the employer’s consent. The employee is limited to two choices of practitioners except by agreement with the employer. The injured employee can choose any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentist, podiatrist, physicians assistant, or nurse practitioner in Wisconsin. There are a number of mental health professionals not recognized, such as social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. Psychiatrists and licensed psychologists are the only mental health professionals who may be selected as a treating practitioner in Wisconsin. For eye care, Ophthalmologists are included, while optometrists are not. Dentists are included but dentist reports cannot be used regarding the cause or the extent of the disability (that is,,Permanent Partial Disability). Physicians Assistants and Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers are practitioners who can provide reports on diagnosis and necessary treatment, but not on the cause and extent of disability.

Some other health care professionals not included in the listing of treating practitioners are licensed physical therapists (these expenses will be payable, however, if connected to a physician’s opinion as to the necessity related to the injury).

Our Team

Tom Domer
With over 35 years of experience representing injured workers in Wisconsin, he is listed in Best Lawyers in America (2014-15 Milwaukee Workers' Compensation Law-Claimants Lawyer of the Year) and as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer.

Charlie Domer
Charlie’s advocacy earned him recognition in Best Lawyers in America and in Wisconsin Super Lawyers. He is also a frequent speaker/writer on worker’s compensation topics, as well as the co-author of West’s treatise Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Law.

Sam Liverseed
Sam has a passion for representing injured workers, spending his young career practicing Wisconsin workers’ compensation law. He earned his law degree from Marquette University. As a lifelong Wisconsin resident, he is an avid Packers, Bucks, Brewers, and Badgers fan.

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